The Monday after the Fifth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on July 6, 2026 by under
Scripture: Acts 5:27-32 (NKJV)
5:27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!”
29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”
Devotion
“We ought to obey God rather than man.”
When given the choice of obeying one person or another, people often submit to whoever holds “the bigger stick.” Since the punishment of God is so much worse than any punishment man can inflict, one might think that is why the Apostles would prefer to obey God rather than the council of the Jewish leaders. But there is a greater reason for their obedience. Besides their divine call which bound them to the Word of God, the proclamation of the forgiveness of sins was at stake! Peter said in verses 31 and 32: “Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things…” If the Apostles obeyed men, rather than God, sinners would not be converted! Without the faithful preaching of Law and Gospel, no one would repent of his sins and receive forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ.
Christians should pray often that their pastor would be faithful in his calling. Like the Apostles, ministers today need to be strengthened by the Holy Spirit so that they do not fear to speak the truth—even if man opposes it and threatens punishment. Through the faithful ministry of these men, we receive the forgiveness of our sins. We are taught to repent through the preaching of the Law and we are comforted in faith through the Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ.
Collect: O God, Who hast prepared for them that love Thee such good things as pass man’s understanding: Pour into our hearts such love toward Thee, that we, loving Thee above all things, may obtain Thy promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
